Braves: 3 moves to make to answer Mets’ Francisco Lindor mega-trade
By John Buhler
2. Add power bat from right side of the plate, either in free agency or by trade
If Atlanta enters the 2021 MLB season as is, the Braves will be viewed as one of the three best teams in the Senior Circuit, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. While the Mets may give Atlanta a run for its money in the NL East, keep in mind The Amazin’s did not even make the expanded postseason field a season ago. It was the Braves and the Miami Marlins.
However, this grandiose assumption that the Braves will be fighting for NL supremacy with the Dodgers, Padres and perhaps the Mets is contingent on them having a power bat hitting cleanup for them from the right side of the plate. Two years ago, it was Josh Donaldson at third base. Last year, it was Marcell Ozuna primarily as the designated hitter. That void must be filled.
Atlanta took its sweet time last offseason to sign Ozuna as Donaldson’s de facto replacement. The former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder replaced the former Auburn star who went to the Minnesota Twins on a multi-year deal. Ozuna may very well return to Atlanta in 2021, but it will be on a significantly bigger contract. I mean, he did lead the NL in home runs and RBI this past season.
The issue with bringing back Ozuna is defensively. If the DH was kept in the NL, he would be back already. If the Braves cannot come to terms with Ozuna on a second contract, it would not be shocking for Anthopoulos to try to orchestrate a blockbuster trade with either the Chicago Cubs for Kris Bryant or the Colorado Rockies for Nolan Arenado. Austin Riley would go the other way.